Carl Pope

Former Executive Director, Sierra Club

As the former executive director and chairman of the Sierra Club, Carl Pope was at the helm of the nation's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. During Pope's 18 year tenure, Sierra Club led the charge in helping to block more than 125 proposed new coal fired power plants, achieving a 40 percent improvement in the pollution and fuel efficiency of America's passenger vehicles, and launching the Club's Climate Recovery Partnership. Pope came to the role with a distinguished record of progressive activism and leadership. He is now the principal advisor at Inside Straight Strategies, looking for the underlying economics that link sustainability and economic development, and serves as a senior advisor to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Pope has served on the Boards of the California League of Conservation Voters, Public Voice, National Clean Air Coalition, California Common Cause, Public Interest Economics Inc, and Zero Population Growth. Carl Pope is the co-author of Climate of Hope: How Cities, Businesses, and Citizens Can Save the Planet. 

Recordings

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Podcast

A Paris Progress Report

May 17, 2018
In June 2017, President Trump announced his plan to withdraw the country from the 2015 Paris Climate Accord, claiming it disadvantaged the United...
Play
Podcast

Canada’s Oil Sands

August 30, 2011
The 1,700-mile Keystone XL pipeline would carry heavy crude oil from Alberta to America’s Gulf Coast refineries.
Cassie Doyle, Consul General,...